Liquid distribution



July 30, 1929. I E. J. UTREY" 1,722,884

LIQUID DISTRIBUTION Filed April 27. 1926 INVENTOR.

ERNEST J AUTREY Rm M A TTORJVE Y.

Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFlCE.

ERNEST J. AUTREY, 011 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO RUSSELL IvI. SIMMONS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA.

LIQUID DISTRIBUTION.

Application filed April 27, 1926.

This invention relates to liquid distribution, and while it is particularly adapted for a hot water supply system, the invention is of general utility for distributing a liquid which has been treated in any suitable manner.

The invention is described in connection with a system of hot water distribution, and in this embodiment of the invention, it is the object to heat water for distribution at a desired temperature without necessitating excessive initial heating, and to maintain the hot water at substantially the pressure available from the source of supply irrespective of withdrawal of hot water faster than the capacity of the heating medium to replenish the supply.

It is a further object of the invention to store a supply of hot water for peak demand, and to utilize the pressure of the incoming flow for maintaining the desired pressure in the storage means without lowering the temperature of the hot water by the cold supply It is the particular ob]ect of the invention to circulate the incoming cold water through chamber communicating with the hot water storage means so that the pressure of the flow is communicated to the water on storage without the cold water entering the storage means.

It is a further particular object of the invention to form the pressure chamber as a series of overflow spaces adapted to successively receive the incoming flow and arranged for opposite withdrawal and supplying of the flow to the heating medium so as to completely eliminate the possibility of the cold water entering the storage means.

It is a still further object of the invention to automatically control the heating and the positive discharge of water from the pressure chamber in accordance with the desired temperature and the withdrawal or hot water from the storage means.

Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred apparatus.

Fig. '2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2ot Fig. 1.

The water heater 1 is arranged for circuitous flow from intake 2 to outlet 3, with the Serial N0. 105,029.

water preferably heated in its passage by a burner 4 which may be controlled by the flow responsive device 5.

Atank of suitable size is divided by vertical partition 7'into a storage chamber 8 and a pressure chamber 9, with said chambers communicating across the top of the partition which is spaced slightly from the top of the tank as shown at 10.

A hot water pipe leads from the outlet of the heater to the storage chamber, with said pipe preferably forming a standpipe 11 opening into the top of the storage chamber at the end thereof remote from partition 7. A pipe 12 for withdrawing hot water leads from the top of the storage chamber preferably adjacent the standpipe 11, and usual faucets or the like (not shown) are'connected to pipe 12 for controlling the withdrawal of water.

A supply pipe 13 leading from any usual source of water under pressure communicates with pressure chamber 9, preferably at its lower portion and at its end which is remote from partition 7; and acpipe 1 1 leads from the pressure chamber, preferably below pipe 13, to the intake 52 of the heater. A pump 15 is provided in pipe 14 and may be driven by an electric motor 16, and a bypass 17 preterably extends around the pump and is normally closed by a relief valve 18 which is adapted to open for rendering the pump inoperative upon a predetermined back pressure such as might develop by clogging of the system.

The motor for driving the pump is preterably controlled by the temperature or" the water entering pipe 14 from the pressure chamber 9, and for this purpose a thermostatic control 21 is provided in pipe 14 adjacent the pressure chamber and is adapted torespectively make and break the electrical circuit 22 of the motor at predetermined minimum and maximum temperatures of the water.

In practice the pressure chamber 9 is pref erably divided into a plurality of chambers by transversely spaced vertical partitions 7 similar to partition 7 and alternately terminating short of the top and bottom of the tank as shown at 10 so that all communication through the pressure chamber between supply pipe 13 andstorage chamber 8 is over and under succeeding partitions 7 before final overflowat partition 7.

in starting the operation of the system, cold water supplied to the pressure chamber through pipe 13 flows into pipe l t and causes thermostat 21 to close the motor circuit for operating pump 15, and the pump withdraws the cold water from the pressure chamber through pipe 14 and forces the water through the heater for discharge through stand pipe 11 into the storage chamber.

hen the storage chamber is filled with hot water it overflows partition 7 until it fills chamber 9, and consequently no more cold water can enter at pipe 13 and circulation of the hot water is through pipe 1st and the heater until thermostat 21 stops motor 16 by the water reaching the desired temperature.

Chambers 8 and 9 are thus completely filled with hot water so that pressure through pipe 13 from the source of supply is communicated to the hot water for forcing it through discharge 12 upon opening of any of the faucets which are connected thereto.

As long as the withdrawal at discharge 12 does not exceed the capacity eat the heater to replenish the supply, chambers 8 and 9 remain filled with hot water so that the pressure of the incoming flow maintains the pressure at discharge 12, and all of the cold water entering at pipe 13 is withdrawn by pump 15 for supplying the heater through pipe 14;, it being understood that the withdrawal of hot water at discharge 12 causes the flow to actuate control 5 in usual manner for operating the burner 4:.

When the withdrawal of hot water is in excess of the capacity of the heater to replenish the supply, the cold water entering at pipe 13 rises in the overflow receptacle formed by the first partition 7 and may overflow into the succeeding receptacles in order to keep the chambers 8 and 9 filled to capacity and consequently maintain a pressure at the discharge 12 which is equal to the pressure available from the source of supply.

The storage chamber 8 is of a capacity in excess of the maximum demand for hot water, so that in no instance will the cold water entering chamber 9 overflow the lastpartition 7 for lowering the temperature of the water in the storage chamber; and the arrangement of partitions 7 whereby successive overflow chambers are termed, provides for the cold water entering only such succeeding overflow spaces as may be necessary to maintain the chambers 8 and 9 filled to their capacity, and

consequently the cold water only affects the temperature of the hot water in the overflow chambers into which it rises.

I have thus provided for maintaining the hot water at the same pressure as is available from the source of supply, irrespective of the replenishing capacity of the heater, and without contact of the incoming cold supply with the hot water in the storage chamber; and as a consequence excessive initial heating meassa of the water not necessary but the hot water is maintained at the desired pressure.

While I have described the invention in connection with the distribution of hot water, it will be apparent that it is applicable to the distribution of any liquid which has been treated in any suitable manner, where it is desired to maintain a pressure on the treated liquid in storage, by utilizing the pressure of the incoming flow without mixing the incoming liquid with that which has been treated in the desired manner.

I claim:

1. A system oi hot water distribution comprising an enclosed storage means, a hot water discharge from the storage means, a heater adapted to supply hot water to the storage means, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the pressure chamber and the storage means, means for pumping water from the pr re chamber to the heater, and means for respectively starting and stopping the pump in accordance with predetermined minimum and maximum temperatures of the water withv drawn from the pressure chamber.

2. A system of hot water distribution comprising an enclosed storage means, a hot water discharge from the storage means, a heater adapted to supply hot water to the storage means, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the pressure chamber and the storage means, means for supplying water under pressure to the pressure chamber, a series of partitions in the pressure chamber between said supply means and said overflow communication, said series of partitions alternately terminating short oi? the top and bottom of the iressure chamber for dividing the latter into succeeding overflow chambers, and means for withdrawing water from the pressure chamber and supplying the same to the heater.

3. A. system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and adischarge, a. pressure chamber, an upright partition between the chambers projecting above the bases thereof and closing communication therebetween except at an enclosed overflow communication over said partition at the top of said chambers. means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, means for *ithdrawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplyit to the inlet of the storage chamber, and i'ncans heating the liquid in said. last mentioned supply means.

A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the chambers. means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, a pump for erawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, and means for heating the liquid in said last mentioned supply means.

5. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, apressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the chambers, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, a pump for withdrawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, means for automatically controlling the pump in accordance with the temperature of the liquid withdrawn from the pressure chamber, and means for heating the liquid in the supply means leading to the inlet of the storage chamber.

6. A system of liquid distribution compris ing an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the chambers, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, a series of partitions in the pressure chamber between said supply means and said overflow communication alternately terminating short of the top and bottom of the pressure chamber for dividing the latter into succeeding overflow chambers, means for withdrawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, and means for heating the liquid in said last mentioned supply means.

7. A system of liquid distribution compris ing an enclosed means for circulating liquid, means for heating the circulatingliquid, means for withdrawing heated liquid from the enclosed circulating means, means for supplying liquid to the enclosed circulating means, and an upstanding partition between said supply means and said withdrawal means blocking said enclosed circulating means except over said partition so as to prevent direct discharge of liquid from the supply means into the heated liquid in the onclosed circulating means adjacent the withdrawal means.

8. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, said chambers being closed to one another by upstanding partition means except at an enclosed overflow communication at the top of said chambers, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, means for withdrawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, and means for heating the liquid in said last mentioned supply means.

9. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, said chambers being closed to one another by upstanding partition means except at an enclosed overflow communication at the top of said chambers, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the pressure chamber, and means for withdrawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber.

10. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed means for circulating liquid, means for heating the circulating liquid, means for withdrawing heated liquid from the enclosed circulating means, means for supplying liquid to the enclosed circulat ing means, and an overflow communication in the enclosed circulating means between said supply means and said withdrawal means adapted to prevent direct discharge of liquid from the supply means into the heated liquid in the enclosed circulating means adjacent the withdrawal means.

11. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the chambers, means for supplying liquid to the pressure chamber, a series of partitions in the pressure chamber between said supply means and said overflow communication, said series of partitions alternately terminating short of the top and bottom of the pressure chamber for dividing the latter into succeeding overflow chambers, a pump for drawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, and means for heating the liquid in said last mentioned supply means.

12. A system of liquid distribution comprising an enclosed storage chamber having an inlet and a discharge, a pressure chamber, an enclosed overflow communication between the chambers, means for supplying liquid to the pressure chamber, a series of partitions in the pressure chamber between said supply means and said overflow communication, said series 01": partitions alternately terminating short of the top and bottom of the pressure chamber for dividing the latter into succeeding overflow chambers, a pump for drawing liquid from the pressure chamber and supplying it to the inlet of the storage chamber, means for automatically controlling the pump in accordance with the temperature of the liquid withdrawn from the pressure chamber, and means for heating the liquid in the supply means leading to the inlet of the storage chamher.

In testimony whereof he has allixed his signature to this specification.

ERNEST J. AUTREY. 

